Wearable flexible interface with interlocking modules

ABSTRACT

A wearable flexible interface with interlocking modules includes a substrate integrated into a wristband, and also each of a processor, memory and power source disposed on the substrate, as well as a data bus. A multiplicity of different modules each are coupled to the data bus, each including firmware and a flexible display. Finally, a display controller is disposed on the substrate and coupled to each of the processor, memory, power source and each of the modules by way of the data bus. The display controller includes program code enabled to selectively direct a display of a display characteristic of a particular one of the modules either in a corresponding flexible display of the particular one of the modules, or in single composite display formed by aggregating the flexible displays of all of the modules.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to flexible displays and more particularlyto wearable articles utilizing a flexible display.

2. Description of the Related Art

A flexible display is a display that is flexible in nature unlike a moretraditional rigid display. A flexible display is a visual display for acomputer formed upon a flexible substrate and often relies upon organiclight emitting diode (OLED) technology. OLED technology is a flat lightemitting technology, constructed through the placement of a series oforganic thin films between conductors. Upon applying an electricalcurrent, a bright light is emitted. Thus, OLED can be an effectivetechnology for computer displays. More importantly, because OLEDtechnology does not require a backlight, displays built upon OLEDtechnology are thinner and more efficient than LCD display and cansupport a flexible substrate.

Curved (concave) display screens are one such display disposed upon aflexible substrate and represent an important new display technologyinnovation because curved display screens substantially improve displayperformance by significantly reducing and sometimes eliminatingreflections from ambient light sources that washout the on-screenimages. By eliminating reflections from ambient light sources, screenreadability improves as does image quality. Also, the elimination ofwashout allows concave displays to run at lower brightness, whichincreases the power efficiency and battery running time for mobiledevices. Of note, the notion of a wearable flexible display has beenproposed in connection with curved display screens so that watch typedevices may permit viewing of displayed information from differentangles.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art inrespect to wearable, flexible displays and provide a novel andnon-obvious method, system and computer program product for a wearableflexible interface with interlocking modules. In an embodiment of theinvention, a wearable flexible interface with interlocking modulesincludes a substrate integrated into a wristband, and also each of aprocessor, memory and power source disposed on the substrate, as well asa data bus. A multiplicity of different modules each are coupled to thedata bus, each including firmware and a flexible display. Finally, adisplay controller is disposed on the substrate and coupled to each ofthe processor, memory, power source and each of the modules by way ofthe data bus. The display controller includes program code enabled toselectively direct the displaying of a display characteristic of aparticular module either in a corresponding flexible display of theparticular one of the modules, or in single composite display formed byaggregating the flexible displays of all of the modules.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the display controller selects adisplay of the display characteristic in the single composite display inresponse to determining that the substrate is in a flattened state. Inanother aspect of the embodiment, a sensor is included in each of themodules, such that the display controller selects a display of thedisplay characteristic in the single composite display responsive to atransduced value by the sensor exceeding a threshold value. In yetanother aspect of the embodiment, gaze tracking logic is coupled to theprocessor and identifies a focal point on the modules of a human gaze,such that the display controller selects a display of the displaycharacteristic in the single composite display responsive to the gazetracking logic identifying a focal point on the particular one of themodules. Finally, in even yet another aspect of the embodiment, anaccelerometer is coupled to the processor so as to detect a particularmovement of the interface, such that the display controller selects adisplay of the display characteristic in the single composite displayresponsive to the accelerometer detecting the particular movement of theinterface.

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspectsof the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elementsand combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It isto be understood that both the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only andare not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute partof this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred,it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to theprecise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a flexible interface withinterlocking modules;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a watch data processing systemincluding a wearable flexible interface with interlocking modules; and,

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process for managing a display ofdata in a wearable flexible interface with interlocking modules.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention provide for a wearable flexible interfacewith interlocking modules. In accordance with an embodiment of theinvention, different separable segments of a flexible display can becoupled to a data bus disposed on a wristband containing an underlyingdata processing system. Selected ones of the segments can includedifferent biometric sensors including temperature, pulse and pH sensors.Each display portion of each segment once positioned on the wristbandcan be combined into a composite display controlled by the underlyingdata processing system of the wristband. In this way, in response to asensed data value by one of the sensors of a corresponding one of thesegments having exceeded a threshold value, the entirety of thecomposite display can be controlled to provide an associated displaycharacteristic. Further, responsive to a physical orientation of thewristband, the entirety of the composite display can be controlled toprovide an associated display characteristic.

In further illustration, FIG. 1 pictorially shows a wearable flexibleinterface with interlocking modules. As shown in FIG. 1, a wearableflexible interface 100 can be provided as a computing substrate 110 fordifferent modules 120 communicatively coupled to one another on a databus provided by the substrate 110. Each of the modules 120 can include aflexible display displaying individual display characteristics 130 suchas information particular to a corresponding one of the modules 120. Forexample, the display characteristic 130 can include a textual indicator,word or phrase. Alternatively, the display characteristic 130 can be animage, icon or merely a color or sequence of colors. As yet anotheralternative, the display characteristic 130 can be a combination ofcolors, textual data and imagery.

Each of the modules 120 also can include a corresponding sensor 150embedded therein. Each sensor 150 in turn can be enabled to transduce areal world physical signal such as temperature, pH or pulse rate. Inresponse to the transduction of a real world physical signal by one ofthe sensors 150 of a corresponding one of the modules 120, a displaycharacteristic 130 of the corresponding one of the modules 120 can bedisplayed in a flexible display of the corresponding one of the modules120 in association with the signal transduced by the one of the sensors150. Notably, the display characteristics 130 in each flexible displayof the corresponding modules 120 can be cooperatively controlled by thesubstrate 110 to provide for an aggregate display 160. In particular,when a value of a signal transduced by one of the sensors 150 exceeds athreshold value, a display characteristic 130 for the transduced signalcan be displayed in the aggregate display 160 rather than in only asingle flexible display of a corresponding one of the modules 120. As analternative, when the flexible interface 100 takes on a particularorientation such as being laid out flat, the aggregate display 160 canbe provided in lieu of providing an individual display for eachcorresponding one of the modules 120.

The process described in connection with FIG. 1 can be implemented as awatch data processing system. In further illustration, FIG. 2schematically shows a watch data processing system including a wearableflexible interface with interlocking modules. The system can include awatch strap substrate 200. The substrate 200 can include a flexiblematerial such as nylon or stainless steel linkages coupled to oneanother to form a wristband. A computing system can be disposed upon thesubstrate 200 and can include a processor 220 coupled to memory 230 andpowered by a power source 240, for example a battery. A displaycontroller 250 also can be provided and configured to manage one or moreflexible displays coupled thereto.

A data bus 260 can be disposed upon the substrate 200 andcommunicatively linked to the processor 220 and memory 230. The data bus260 can receive multiple different modules, each including modulefirmware 270A . . . 270N and a flexible display 290A . . . 290N. Theflexible display 290A . . . 290N can be enabled for control by thedisplay controller 250 to display different display characteristics suchas text or imagery or both. The module firmware 270A . . . 270N caninclude program code consisting of different program instructions ableto be loaded into the memory 230 and executed by the processor 220 so asto control a selection of display characteristics to be displayed in theflexible display 290A . . . 290N.

Of note, a sensor 290A . . . 290N can be included as part of a module.The sensor 290A . . . 290N can be configured to transduce one or morenatural phenomena such as the pulse of a human being, the temperature oracidity of the human body or outside air, or other such naturalconditions. The sensor 290A . . . 290N can be coupled to the processor220 by way of the data bus 260 and processed according to instructionsof the firmware 270A . . . 270N so as to trigger a display of differentdisplay characteristics in the flexible display 290A . . . 290N. In thisregard, the instructions of the firmware 270A . . . 270N can be enabledto display a particular display characteristic responsive to atransduced value from the sensor 280A . . . 280N exceeding a thresholdvalue.

Optionally, the processor 220 can determine whether or not the substrate200 is configured in an elliptical state or in a flattened state. Inresponse to a determination that the substrate 200 is configured in anelliptical state, display characteristics for each individual module canbe determined based upon the firmware of each respective module andseparately displayed in a corresponding one of the flexible displays290A . . . 290N. In contrast, in response to a determination that thesubstrate 200 is configured in a flattened state, the display controller250 can aggregate the flexible displays 290A . . . 290N into a singlecomposite display and only the display characteristics for single one ofthe modules can be displayed in the single composite display.

Gaze tracking logic 210A also can be coupled to the data bus 260 andincorporated into the substrate 200. The gaze tracking logic 210A can beconfigured to identify a focal point of a human gaze upon one of themodules. As such, responsive to determining a particular moduleassociated with a focal point of a gaze of the wearer of the wristband,the gaze tracking logic 210A can indicate to the display controller 250to aggregate the flexible displays 290A . . . 290N into a singlecomposite display and to display a display characteristic of the modulecorresponding to the focal point of the gaze upon the single compositedisplay.

Yet further, an accelerometer 210B can be coupled to the data bus 260and incorporated into the substrate 200. The accelerometer 210B can beconfigured to detect different movements of the wristband. In responseto a specific movement of the wristband, a particular one of the modulescan be selected and the accelerometer 210B can indicate to the displaycontroller 250 to aggregate the flexible displays 290A . . . 290N into asingle composite display and to display a display characteristic of theparticular one of the modules upon the single composite display.

A process of toggling between different display modes of the wearableflexible interface is shown in FIG. 4?. In this regard, FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process for managing a display of data in awearable flexible interface with interlocking modules. Beginning inblock 310, a configuration state of the wristband of the flexibleinterface is determined. If in decision block 320 the configuration isdetermined to be elliptical, in block 330, the display characteristicsfor each individual module can be determined based upon the firmware ofeach respective module and separately displayed in a corresponding oneof the flexible displays. In contrast, if it is determined in decisionblock 320 that the configuration state of the wristband is a flattenedstate, in block 340 the display controller can aggregate the flexibledisplays into a single composite display and only the displaycharacteristics for single one of the modules can be displayed in thesingle composite display.

The present invention may be embodied within a system, a method, acomputer program product or any combination thereof. The computerprogram product may include a computer readable storage medium or mediahaving computer readable program instructions thereon for causing aprocessor to carry out aspects of the present invention. The computerreadable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain andstore instructions for use by an instruction execution device. Thecomputer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limitedto, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an opticalstorage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductorstorage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readablestorage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, ahard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), anerasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a staticrandom access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory(CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk,a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structuresin a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitablecombination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, asused herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se,such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves,electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or othertransmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-opticcable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

Finally, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describingparticular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of theinvention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification,specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations,elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence oraddition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations,elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

Having thus described the invention of the present application in detailand by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent thatmodifications and variations are possible without departing from thescope of the invention defined in the appended claims as follows:

We claim:
 1. A wearable flexible interface with interlocking modules,the wearable flexible interface comprising: a substrate integrated intoa wristband; a processor, memory and power source disposed on thesubstrate; a data bus coupled to processor, memory and power source; amultiplicity of different modules each coupled to the data bus, eachmodule comprising firmware and a flexible display; and, a displaycontroller disposed on the substrate and coupled to each of theprocessor, memory, power source and each of the modules by way of thedata bus, the display controller comprising program code enabled toselectively direct a display of a display characteristic of a particularone of the modules either in a corresponding flexible display of theparticular one of the modules, or in single composite display formed byaggregating the flexible displays of all of the modules, wherein thedisplay controller determines if either an elliptical state or aflattened state of the substrate of the wristband exists and if it isdetermined that a flattened state and not an elliptical state of thesubstrate of the wristband exists, selects a display of the displaycharacteristic in the single composite display responsive to determininga flattened state of the substrate of the wristband.
 2. The interface ofclaim 1, further comprising a sensor in each of the modules, the displaycontroller alternatively selecting a display of the displaycharacteristic in the single composite display responsive to atransduced value by the sensor exceeding a threshold value.
 3. Theinterface of claim 1, further comprising gaze tracking logic coupled tothe processor, the gaze tracking logic identifying a focal point on themodules of a human gaze, the display controller alternatively selectinga display of the display characteristic in the single composite displayresponsive to the gaze tracking logic identifying a focal point on theparticular one of the modules.
 4. The interface of claim 1, furthercomprising an accelerometer coupled to the processor, the accelerometerdetecting a particular movement of the interface, the display controlleralternatively selecting a display of the display characteristic in thesingle composite display responsive to the accelerometer detecting theparticular movement of the interface.
 5. A method of managing a displayof a display characteristic of a module on a set of flexible displays ofa wearable flexible interface comprising a substrate integrated into awristband, with interlocking modules, the method comprising: determininga state of the wearable flexible interface and if a flattened state of asubstrate of the wearable flexible interface exists and not anelliptical state; and, responsive to a determination that a flattenedstate of the substrate exists, selectively directing a processor of thewearable flexible interface to display a display characteristic of aparticular one of the interlocking modules either in a correspondingflexible display of the particular one of the interlocking modules, orin single composite display formed by aggregating the flexible displaysof all of the modules, wherein a display of the display characteristicin the single composite display is selected responsive to determining aflattened state of the substrate of the wristband.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, wherein a display of the display characteristic in the singlecomposite display is alternatively selected responsive to determiningthat a transduced value by a sensor of the particular one of theinterlocking modules exceeds a threshold value.
 7. The method of claim5, further comprising gaze tracking a focal point of a human gaze uponthe particular one of the modules and alternatively selecting the singlecomposite display of the display characteristic in response to the gazetracking.
 8. The method of claim 5, further comprising detecting aparticular movement of the interface and alternatively selecting adisplay of the display characteristic in the single composite displayresponsive to the detecting the particular movement.